Collapsible tube



Oct. 26 1926.

A. C. LADD C OLLAPS IBLE TUBE Filed March 5 INVENTOR fl.C.Ladd

WITNESSES ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 26, 1926.

UNITED STATES ALLSTON C. LADD, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

COLLAPSIBLE TUBE.

Application filed March This invention relates to collapsible tubes of the character utilized to contain and dis charge compound or composition in the form of a tooth paste, cream soap, or liquid 3 lotion, and has particular reference to the construction of the discharge control end of tubes of the character mentioned and employing an external closure member.

Some of the objects of the present invention are: to reduce the number of parts, to simplify the construction, to facilitate the assemblage of parts by virtue of the special construction, and to therefore reduce costs.

Another object of the invention is to produce a discharge control end for container bodies which will be efficient and effectual in operation to permit and prevent the discharge of container contents.

Vv ith the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention resides in the particular provision, construction and mode of application of parts hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in

' Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in seotion of a collapsible tube embodying the present invention and showing the closure member in a closed position.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 looking 30 toward the end of the closure member and showing the same in an opened position.

Fig. 3 is a plan view.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the closure member detached and showing the condition it is in prior to its application to the breast construction.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a modified form of discharge control end.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary side elevation partly in section, the section being taken substantially on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary elevation partly in section, the section being taken substantially on the line 7-7 of Fig. 5.

The present invention chiefly resides in the construction and operation of the parts of the discharge control end 10 to be fully described, and essentially in the combination of the end 10 with a container body such as the collapsible tube T.

The discharge control end 10 comprises a breast construction 11 and cut-off or closure member 12. The breast construction 11 has a prominence 13 and a screw'threaded centrally located bore 14.. The prominence 13 provides an abutment 15 and has a dis- 5, 1925. Serial No. 13,167.

charge passage 16 extendingtherethrough and opening through the top face thereoi. The closure member 12 consists of a body 17 from which. extend lateral members-18 and 19 and an axially arranged screw threaded member 20. The closure member 12 is associated with the breast construction 11 so as to be movable with respect thereto so that the member 18 may be brought in a position to close the discharge passage 16 or to uncover the same, and saidclosure member is prevented from being separated from the breast construction for reasons and in the manner presently to be explained.

The closure member is preferably made of white metal so that the member 19 may be readily bent. After the member 20 is screwed into the bore 1a the member 19 is bent downwardly as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. It will. be understood that by imparting a turning movement to the member 12 it will also move slightly up or down according to which way the member 12 is turned. In turning the member 12 in one direction the member 18 is brought over the prominence 13 in contact therewith and by virtue of the contact of the member 18 with the top face of the prominence 13 the closure member is held against movement in one direction with the member 18 in a position in which it closes the discharge passage 16. By turning the closure member 12 in an opposite direction the member 18 will be caused to move laterally and slightly upward and may be moved from the position over the prominence to a position away from the same to uncover the discharge passage 16; the member 19 limiting the turning movement of the member 12 since it will be confronted by the abutment 15. The end 10 may be attached to the tube T in any preferred manner.

In the modification of the discharge con trol end shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7 the breast construction 26 is substantially similar to the breast construction 11. The clo sure member 27, however, is changed in con struction in that the body member 28 has a single lateral member 29 and an axially arranged screw threaded member 30. The member 29 has a projection 31 equivalent to the member 19 of the closure member 12, which is bent downwardly after the closure member 27 is applied, the said projection 31 limiting the movement of the closure member 27 as that member is turned to uncover the passage 16, by virtue of the engagement of the projection 31 with the abutment 33. When the projection 31 on member 29 is bent downwardly, after the closure member 27 is applied, there is left a sufficient space between the abutment 32 of prominence 13 and projection 31 that they may not. come intocontact, or prevent a tight engagement of the parallel faces of the'member 29 and prominence 13. The engagement of the projection 31 with the abutment 33 prevents the separation or detachment of the closure member 27 fromthe breast construction 26.

In discharge control ends employing an external cut-off closure member it has been '5 found a simple and effective expedient to apply the closure member by using coacting screw threaded parts respectively on the closure member and the breast construction which supports it, and a bendable member onthe closure member by virtue of which nicati'ng with the interior of said body, an

externally arranged segmental cut-off applied to said breast by virtue of a screw connection, to thus allow the cut-off to be moved laterally and toward said prominence to cover the discharge end of said passage, and to be moved laterally and away from said prominence. to uncover the discharge end of said passage, a portion of said cut-off en- 1,coa,175

ga-geable with said prominence to limit the movement of the cut-off laterally and away from said prominence, the movement of the cut-off laterally and toward the prominence being limited by virtue of the meeting of the under face of the cut-oil and upper face of the prominence.

' 2. A d'scharge control end for a collapsible container body comprising a breast having a prominence with a discharge passage extending therethrough, a segmental member having movement in two directions simultaneously, and means for limiting the movement of said member in either direction, said member being limited in its movement in effecting the closing of the discharge end of said passage by virtue of the contact of a portion of said member with a portion of saidprominence. 1

3. A discharge control end for a container body comprising a breast, a prominence on said breast providing an abutment, said prominence having a passage therethrough, a movable segmental member carried by said breast and movable into and out of contact with the face of said prominence through which said passage opens to close the discharge endof said passage when in contact with said face the contact established preventing further movement of said member in one direction and to open the discharge end of said passage when moved away from said ALLSTON C. LADD. 

